Disability discrimination

Overview

Sometimes people who have mental health problems are treated unfavourably because of their mental health condition. This is called discrimination. If you experience it, you may have a legal right to challenge it.

Quick facts

• The Equality Act 2010 is the law that gives you the right to challenge discrimination.
• To get protection under the Equality Act, you usually have to show that your mental health problem is a disability. 'Disability' has a special meaning under the Act.
• The Equality Act protects you from discrimination when you:
  
  • Buy, rent or live in property
  • Use services, for example shops or insurance companies
  • Use public functions, for example policing or benefits
  • Are in education, for example at a college or university
  • Join some private clubs and associations
  • Are at work, applying for a job, made redundant or dismissed (see our pages on discrimination at work to learn more about this)
• Public authorities have an extra duty to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. This is called the public sector equality duty.
• There are short timescales for taking a legal claim if you believe that someone has discriminated against you. If you can, try to get legal advice before starting a claim.

This information was published in October 2023. We will revise it in 2026.

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